Spring Song, Black Redstart and a Lone Brent Goose - Shuart to Chambers Wall 09/04/21

It was a beautifully fine morning when I arrived at Shuart and the air was alive with bird song and it was lovely to be able to just spend time listening to the sheer beauty of it as various songs intermingled, some loudly competing, some dominating with bursts of vigorous singing, other melodies sweetly coming to the fore as various other singers paused before recommencing. April is a great month as more and more singers join the ensemble with new arrivals making their presence known and I love to be able to enjoy the beauty of their song once again. The pair of Ring-necked Parakeet didn't perhaps sound particularly musical as their strident calls cut through the air but they made up for it with the bright flash of colour as they appeared briefly above the trees. A Grey Squirrel was clearly enjoying the warmth from the sunshine as it sunbathed on a branch.

Grey Squirrel

As I made my way along the track another Willow Warbler was singing sweetly away and a couple of Blackcap appeared to be in competition with each other. 3 Cetti's Warblers at various points burst into explosive song but still only gave tantalisingly brief views. A couple of Peacock butterflies were on the wing while Chiffchaff and many of the usual jobs were busily working their way through the hedgerow. A Grey Heron soaring high overhead showed signs of moult in some of its flight feathers.

Grey Heron

Sedge Warbler song followed me as I neared the railway line and 3 Yellow Wagtail flew west. Another Cetti's Warbler burst into song as I arrived at the stables. I was pleased to see a Black Redstart fly up from one of the paddocks but it only settled for a moment before flying to behind the hedge as a furore started up with the arrival of opposing dog walkers whose dogs definitely did not want to be friends. By the time the dogs had stopped barking and the owners had stopped yelling, the Black Redstart must have been happy where it had moved to as, though I waited a little while, it did not reappear in the open. Hopefully I'll catch up with it again as it is certainly a good spot for them.

I had a wander along the sea wall towards Plumpudding and a Redshank and 28 Oystercatchers were dotted along the shore. A flock of 30 Linnet flew west. Plumpudding held another 27 roosting Redshank and 4 Pied Wagtail. A Cetti's Warbler was on the other side of the sea wall and a male Marsh Harrier was up hunting over towards the embankment. A single Brent Goose stood out in one of the fields, as I headed towards Coldharbour, before it flew west. It may well be the last one I see until later in the year.

Brent Goose

Brent Goose

Eighteen Common Scoter were off shore and a single Shelduck flew west as I made my way to Coldharbour. At Coldharbour a Rock Pipit flew over and settled on the sea wall. Coldharbour itself was quiet with a few Black-headed Gulls and a Mute Swan.

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

I had a sit on the sea wall for a while. 2 Sandwich Tern were a long way off shore but otherwise it appeared quiet. A small flock of 9 Grey Plover flew east.

Grey Plover

A person walking along the shore flushed a flock of c200 roosting Sanderling together with 5 Dunlin and a 6 Turnstone. They flew out to sea before turning and streaming past me as they came into settle further along the shore.

Sanderling, Turnstone and Dunlin

Sanderling, Turnstone and Dunlin

I decided to come off the sea wall and head for Chambers Wall. Another couple of Cetti's Warbler were singing loudly as I made my way to the embankment and 3 small flocks of Swallows flew west. Skylarks were singing away with Reed Bunting and Sedge Warblers joining in. Suddenly there was a short flurry of warning calls and then total silence as a female Sparrowhawk shot through. Once the coast was clear song started up once again. From the embankment I could see a Short-eared Owl hunting briefly before settling down again.

Short-eared Owl

A singing Willow Warbler together with singing Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Chaffinch made for a pleasant walk up to the pick up point. Another Cetti's Warbler was belting out its song. Unfortunately it remained skulky but a singing Wren was much more obliging. It always amazes me that so much sound can come from such a little bird. It made a nice end to the visit.

Wren

Birds seen this visit included: 2 Ring-necked Parakeet, Jackdaws, 7 Chiffchaff, 2 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 5 Chaffinch, 12 Goldfinch, 3 Willow Warbler, 8 Blackcap, Great Tits, Blue Tits, 6 Wren, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Stock Dove, Wood Pigeons, 4 Blackbird, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Magpie, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Common Buzzard, 8 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Whitethroat, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Mute Swan, 9 Reed Bunting, 7 Sedge Warbler, 1 Black Redstart, 30 Linnet, 15 Meadow Pipit, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 5 Curlew, 28 Oystercatcher, 28 Redshank, 12 Corn Bunting, 3 Mallard, 2 Coot, 7 Pied Wagtail, 1 Marsh Harrier, 15 Turnstone, 1 Brent Goose, 18 Common Scoter, 1 Shelduck, 1 Kestrel, 2 Sandwich Tern, 200 Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, 9 Grey Plover, Skylarks, 13 Swallow west, 2 Rock Pipit, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Stonechat, 1 Short-eared Owl, 

Russian White-fronted Geese, Barnacle Geese and a Hungry Merlin - Shuart to Reculver 10/12/20

It was very overcast as I headed to Shuart this morning but it was good to be out particularly as it was likely to be my last chance for coming bird watching until the end of December. Though it appeared to be fairly quiet over all I enjoyed hearing and seeing what I could as I made my way along the track and caught up with most of the usual jobs. I paused to watch a mixed flock of Tits, captivated as always by the antics of the Long-tailed Tits. A Water Rail called and coming to one of the gaps in the hedgerow I could see a flock of 152 Russian White-fronted Geese making the most of one of the harvested Sweetcorn fields.

Russian White-fronted Geese

I could see both a Marsh Harrier and a Common Buzzard up over the far fields and a Golden Plover that had been disturbed flew over calling. A couple of Brent Geese flew over before heading back towards the sea. Some of the White-fronts were surprisingly close to the path and allowed some very good views through the various gaps in the hedgerow. There was something very special about being able to see them so close and so many. 

Russian White-fronted Geese

Russian White-fronted Geese

The geese were moving to various areas of the fields, sometimes in smaller groups, sometimes a large number of them moving at once. As I came to the end of the hedgerow some of them were surprisingly close to the path and I was worried about disturbing them but as it turned out they seemed to be totally unconcerned by anyone passing by on the path. Several dog walkers headed past but the most the geese would do would be to raise their heads and have a look before resuming feeding again. As I carried on along the path I was treated to some of the best views of White-fronted Geese I have ever had. The day was proving to be quite an experience.

Russian White-fronted Geese

A single Brent Goose was also in the field with them but was keeping to itself at the side.

Brent Goose

It was nice to be able to catch up with the two Barnacle Geese again and they also seemed remarkably unconcerned by any activity on the path enabling some great views of them.

Barnacle Geese

Barnacle Geese

Barnacle Geese

It was time to make a move but hard to tear myself away. There is something magical about the sight and sounds of so many geese. Five Redshank flew past and settled down into the same field as the geese, near some standing water. 

Redshank

A Stonechat popped up as I came up to the railway line and I could see some Red-legged Partridge along the back edge of one of the fields. Heading past the stables it was surprisingly quiet apart from a couple of vocal Dunnocks and a few Starling and House Sparrows. A Pied Wagtail flew over as I came up onto the sea wall and a Little Egret was on the shore with a couple of Redshank and a Sanderling. It remained fairly quiet out to sea as I made my way towards Coldharbour with 2 Red-throated Divers east and 104 Mallard and 18 Common Scoter a good ways off shore. Cormorants had collected on the various rocks and were moving back to the water as the tide went out.

Cormorant

Cormorant

Three Great Crested Grebes were off shore and I came across a small mix of waders as I made my along.

Great Crested Grebes

Coldharbour was very quiet apart from a single Redshank who was throwing a clear reflection but who was looking pretty much as cold as I felt.

Redshank

On nearing the green wall a male Merlin was trying for a Skylark and a couple of times I thought it was going to catch it but each time the Skylark evaded it. It was amazing watching them and seeing how much effort and energy the Merlin had to put into trying to catch it, coming at it from all angles and the speed of the chase. In the end the Merlin had to admit defeat and headed off to try its luck elsewhere.
 

Merlin and Skylark

Merlin and Skylark

Merlin and Skylark

The lone Brent Goose was investigating the rocks near the towers as I reached Reculver. 

Brent Goose

Coming up past the towers a hovering Kestrel dropped to make a successful catch before flying off with it and bringing the visit to a close.

Kestrel

Kestrel with prey

Birds seen this visit included: Great Tits, Blue Tits, Wood Pigeons, 3 Wren, 6 Chaffinch, 29 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet, 12 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Moorhen, 1 Golden Plover, 6 Magpie, 2 Pheasant, 152 White-fronted Geese, 1 Fieldfare, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Redwing, 1 Water Rail, 380 Brent Geese, 2 Barnacle Geese, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Mute Swan, 2 Common Buzzard, Carrion Crows, 5 Stonechat, 2 Reed Bunting, 10 Red-legged Partridge, 2 Dunnock, 5 Pied Wagtail, Starlings, House Sparrows, 1 Little Egret, 14 Oystercatcher, Cormorants, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Sanderling, 9 Redshank, 2 Red-throated Diver east, 2 Meadow Pipit, 3 Kestrel, 104 Mallard, 18 Common Scoter, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Curlew, 1 Grey Plover, 11 Turnstone, 6 Ringed Plover, 1 Merlin, Skylarks, 1 Short-eared Owl 

Goldcrest, Yellow-browed Warbler and a Snow Bunting - Chambers Wall to Reculver 16/10/20

Rain was blowing through the wind on a very overcast day as I arrived at Chambers Wall but luckily it did not come to anything. Skylarks were calling from above as I made my way down the approach road and a handsome male Sparrowhawk streaked away from the hedgerow as I approached. Above, 10 Siskin flew west and along the hedgerow I was greeted by the sight of flocks of Goldcrest working their way through. Within moments I had seen flocks of 7, 6 and another 6 flying to various bushes before dropping in and starting to acrobatically look for food. It was just beautiful to see so many of them. 

Goldcrest

More Goldcrests were in the bushes around the car park area and as I made my way down the track the hedgerow was alive with Goldcrests and a good mix of birds. I paused to watch several Goldcrests acrobatically working their way through one of the bushes and while scanning through them I was thrilled when I saw a small wingbarred warbler move out into view amongst them. It only gave two brief views and did not call but even though brief, the views were good, and seeing it both from the back and the side enabled me to see everything that made it perfect for a Yellow-browed as well as seeing its rump (not lemon yellow) as it flicked back into cover and its crown from the front (no obvious crown stripe) when it turned. Having noted what I could I tried for a photo but saw it move to the next section of bush and could not see where in the view finder so grabbed a few photos of the bush in the hopes that I might be lucky enough to get a shot of it. Moments later all the birds had continued moving through to the next bushes and I didn't manage to catch up with it again. When I got home I looked through the photos to see if by any chance I had managed to catch it. I found something in one of the photo and though it is incredibly heavily cropped, and it may be that I haven't actually even managed by sheer luck to get a photo of the Yellow-browed, it will always remind me of the brief encounter I had with a beautiful warbler.

Hoping I have a shot of it in there somewhere

Incredibly heavily cropped and something is there

After that excitement I carried on down and a Brambling flew over calling and a little further along another Brambling was calling from the back of the hedgerow just giving tantalising glimpses now and then through gaps in the branches. A couple of Migrant Hawkers were on the wing. Above a couple of flocks of Fieldfare and a flock of 12 Redwing headed west and in the hedgerow a few were enjoying the berries. Small flocks of Chaffinch were also moving west. As I approached the crossing 2 more Brambling were heading west. By now I had seen 72 Goldcrests and that was just the ones I had seen and there must have been many more. Every bush seemed to hold them. What an amazing sight. As I headed along to Coldharbour a Meadow Pipit's chest and belly glowed surprisingly white against the berries it was sitting next to.

Meadow Pipit

A Mute Swan and a Little Egret were on Coldharbour and 25 Redshank were roosting. A couple of Stonechat were active and Meadow Pipits headed back and fore but otherwise it was quiet. I had a sit on the sea wall for a while and the tide was on its way out. Though it was quiet out to sea I just enjoyed watching the odd gulls that were moving around and amongst the usual Black-headed and Herring Gulls a Common Gull and also 3 Great Black-backed Gulls flew east. Two Greylag Geese called briefly as they flew high overhead. I was grateful for the call as I had missed them coming in from the north while I was watching the gulls. They gradually lost a little height as they headed inland but carried on and did not appear to come down. 

Greylag Geese

Another couple of Stonechat popped up as I made my way towards Reculver and a Snow Bunting was searching for seeds along the base of the sea wall and could have been the same one I saw the other day. They really are beautiful birds and it appeared to be finding a good number of seeds amongst the vegetation at the foot of the sea wall. It only moved back to the shore side when a group of cyclists passed by.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

I had another sit on the sea wall and realised that I had missed a message from Matt Hindle saying that there was a Pallas's Warbler in Reculver bushes. What a great find. Getting there in time with enough light would be a bit more of a problem, as my walking ability was having a decidedly off day today and I was still quite a way away but it was worth trying for. It was amazing as I headed back to see so many Goldcrest in the vegetation alongside the sea wall. I can honestly say that I have never seen so many Goldcrest on a single day as I have seen today. They were everywhere and an absolute joy to watch.

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

A small flock of Goldfinch were busy extracting seeds from some of the Teasels and one of them was close to the sea wall and gave a good view as it delicately picked them out and pausing to eat them.

Goldfinch

A Brent Goose was close inshore and appeared to be eating thin strands of vegetation that it picked up from just under the seas surface.

Brent Goose

The sun light coming below the clouds had broken into a ribbon of sunbeams and was an amazing sight.

Sunbeams

Even though the light was fading fast Goldcrests were still active and the vegetation alongside the sea wall continued to be alive with them.

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

It was dusk by the time I reached Reculver and I could not manage to find the Pallas'. I enjoyed watching the last few Goldcrest I saw in the gloom but with walking ability almost non-existant by now I was very grateful to reach the pick up point. Today though will be a day I remember for a long time. The sight of so many Goldcrests was a sight to behold and a gem of a Yellow-browed Warber the icing on the cake.

Birds seen this visit included: Skylarks, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 9 Chiffchaff, 25 Robin, 7 Wren, 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Siskin, 86 Fieldfare, 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 Kestrel, 3 Song Thrush, 44 Chaffinch, 145 Goldcrest, 5 Dunnock, 12 Blackbird, 7 Mute Swan, 32 Goldfinch, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Golden Plover, 4 Brambling, 12 Redwing, 12 Lapwing, 4 Magpie, 3 Grey Heron, 7 Blue Tit, 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Brent Goose, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 4 Reed Bunting, 8 Stonechat, 2 Coot, 27 Redshank, 1 Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 1 Snow Bunting, 1 Moorhen, House Sparrows, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Owl,